Llibre Vermell de Montserrat facts for kids

The song Mariam matrem virginem, a leaf from the Llibre Vermell de Montserrat.

The Llibre Vermell de Montserrat (which means "Red Book of Montserrat") is a special old book. It holds a collection of religious writings and some cool songs from the late Middle Ages. This book was put together around the year 1399. You can still find it today at the monastery of Montserrat. This monastery is located near Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain.

About the Old Book

This old book was made around 1399. It used to have 172 double pages, but 32 of them are now missing. Six of these pages have music written on them. The name "The Red Book of Montserrat" comes from its red cover. This cover was added in the 1800s. We don't know who wrote any of the songs in the book.

The monastery where the book is kept has a special place for the Virgin of Montserrat. This was a very important spot for pilgrims (people who travel for religious reasons) when the book was created.

The Music Inside

The person who put this book together explained why they made it. They wrote:

"Because the pilgrims wish to sing and dance while they keep their watch at night in the church of the Blessed Mary of Montserrat, and also in the light of day; and in the church no songs should be sung unless they are chaste and pious, for that reason these songs that appear here have been written. And these should be used modestly, and take care that no one who keeps watch in prayer and contemplation is disturbed."

So, the songs were made for pilgrims. They could sing and dance to them. The songs were meant to be "chaste and pious," meaning pure and religious. Many of them were for circle dances. The songs are written in Catalan, Occitan, and Latin.

Even though the book was written in the late 1300s, some of the music seems older. For example, one song called Imperayritz de la ciutat joyosa has two different sets of words. These words could be sung at the same time. This style was a bit old-fashioned when the book was put together.

These songs are like a mix of folk songs and hymns. Some songs have only one melody (called monophonic). Others have two to four different melodies played together (called polyphony). The songs with one melody can also be sung as canons. This means different groups start singing the same melody at different times.

The songs are quite simple. They have dance rhythms and strong melodies. This has made the music from the Red Book very popular. These songs are some of the most often recorded pieces of early music.

Songs That Still Exist

There are ten songs from the collection that we still have today:

• Song: O Virgo Splendens ("O Splendid Virgin")
• Virelai/dance: Stella Splendens ("Splendid Star")
• Song: Laudemus Virginem ("Let us praise the Virgin")
• Song: Splendens Ceptigera ("Splendid ruler")
• Virelai: Mariam, Matrem Virginem, Attolite ("Praise Mary, the virgin mother")
• Virelai/dance: Polorum Regina ("Queen of the Poles")
• Virelai: Cuncti Simus Concanentes ("Let us sing together")
• Ballad/dance: Los Set Gotxs ("The seven joys")
• Motet: Imperayritz de la ciutat joyosa / Verges ses par misericordiosa ("Empress of the happy city" / "Virgin, out of mercy")
• Virelai: Ad Mortem Festinamus ("We hasten towards death")

Many musicians have performed these songs. Some famous groups include Jordi Savall and Hespèrion XX, Micrologus, and Ensemble Unicorn.

Modern Recordings

Many artists have recorded the music from the Llibre Vermell:

• 1971 - Music of Catalonia in the 14th Century: Llibre Vermell de Montserrat. By Atrium Musicae.
• 1979 - Llibre Vermell de Montserrat. A fourteenth century pilgrimage. By Hespèrion XX, led by Jordi Savall.
• 1992 - Llibre Vermell - Pilgrim Songs & Dances. By New London Consort, led by Philip Pickett.
• 1994 - Llibre Vermell De Montserrat. By Sarband, Osnabrücker Jugend Chor.
• 1995 - Llibre Vermell de Montserrat - Cantigas de Santa Maria. By Alla Francesca.
• 1996 - "Los set goyts" and "Imperayritz de la ciutat joyosa" were recorded by Angelo Branduardi on his album Futuro antico.
• 2007 - Llibre Vermell. By Choeur de chambre de Namur, Psallentes, Les Pastoureaux, Millenarium, directed by Christophe Deslignes.
• 2001 - Un Llibre Vermell, chants et danses des pèlerins de Montserrat. By Camerata Vocale de Brive; Ens. Le Concert dans l'Oeuf; Capella Silvanensis, directed by Jean-Michel Hasler.
• 2016 - Llibre Vermell de Montserrat. By La Capella Reial de Catalunya, Hespèrion XXI, led by Jordi Savall.

Media

• Mariam matrem virginem (MIDI file)

See also

In Spanish: Llibre Vermell de Montserrat para niños

• Cantigas de Santa Maria, another similar music book from the time of Alfonso X of Castile.